Jan Steeman

(b. 23 May 1933, The Netherlands)

Jan Steeman began his comics career in the scouting magazine Alle Hens, where he illustrated several stories and articles. His first work was a comic adaptation of Jules Verne's 'Het IJzeren Paard', and appeared in the magazine Prins Leo.

Het Stoomhuis (from Prins Leo)

In 1959, he began the gag strip 'Rik' in Taptoe, that was continued as a continuing series under the name 'Rik, Clio en Pluk' from 1961 to 1970. In 1964, he cooperated with the Toonder Studios, where he began drawing on the production for publisher De Geïllustreerde Pers. He illustrated Disney comics with 'The Big Bad Wolf' and 'Hiawatha' for Donald Duck weekly, as well as 'The Flintstones' and 'De Steenrakkertjes'.

In 1968, the took over the artwork of the series 'Panda' from Dick Matena, which he continued until 1970. That year, he left the studios to begin a collaboration with the magazine Sjors. There, he took over the title comic 'Sjors en Sjimmie' from Jan Kruis, drawing new stories with more science-fiction elements until Sjors and Pep merged to Eppo.

Sjors en Sjimmie, Sjors #42, 1973

He also began the science-fiction series 'Arad en Maya' with scriptwriter Lo Hartog van Banda. After the disappearance of Sjors, he went to work for its successor Eppo, for which he made the adventures of the soccer player 'Roel Dijkstra' with writer Andries Brandt. Steeman and Brandt made this series until 1981, and were succeeded by the British artist Keith Watson and writer Dave Hunt.

Arad en Maya

Steeman was one of the co-founders of the satirical comics monthly De Vrije Balloen in 1975. That same year, he joined the girls' magazine Tina, where he began the popular series 'Noortje' with text writer Patty Klein. About 40 years later, 'Noortje' is still one of the most popular character in Tina, as well as the longest running comic in the magazine.

Artwork for De Vrije Balloen

In October 2005 Jan Steeman received the coveted Dutch Stripschapprijs for his comic oeuvre. Steeman's sons Theo, Lucas and Sander have also become artists.